claim to be VS claim is

[AmandaS355]

The electronics company has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs less than 11 ounces.
A. to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs
B. to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, weighing
C. is the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, and it weighs
D. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, which is as long as a handheld computer and weighs
E. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, weighing

the answer is D.
My understanding is:
A. "it" is ambiguous, it could refer to "computer" or the product the company has unveiled
B. "which" incorrectly refers to "the world", plus, "weighing" is also wrong, it should be referring to "the product", but here it refers to either "computer" or "the company"
C,E has similar problems as A,B

am I correct? and can we narrow down the choices by comparing "claims to be" and "claims is"?? or if they are both correct??

looking forward to your explanations!!!
Thanks a lot!! ;)))

[RonPurewal]

Per the forum rules, please cite the original source of the problem.

If the source is GMAT Prep (FREE software only) or MGMAT materials, this is the wrong folder. In that case, please do the following:

* Search the forum to see whether there are any existing threads on the problem.
(For GMAT Prep problems in particular, it's almost certain that there will already be a thread.)

* If there's an existing thread, DO NOT post a new thread. Read the existing thread, and then post any remaining questions on the existing thread.

* If you don't find any existing threads, please start a new thread in the appropriate folder.

Thanks.

[RonPurewal]

Also, if you create a new thread, please read the rules for how to create thread titles. Thanks.

[DiJ92]

Dear RON,


This question is from GMAT prep.

I also confused about "...has unveiled what it claims is the smallest" and "has unveiled what it claims to be the smallest"
I think that both construction are fine.
in the first one, What( Subject) it claims(modifier) is (verb)"
in the latter one, What( the object of "claim") it (Subject) claims (verb) to be the smallest. this is an actually construction: Subject claim object to be

Am I right?

[RonPurewal]

'claim [something] to be [something else]' is not an idiom in formal english.

[RonPurewal]

MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY

on this exam, you're only responsible for VERY BASIC idioms.
by 'very basic' i'm talking about the idioms that are known to everyone who knows english—the ones you most certainly would have encountered in your first couple of months of exposure to written english.
e.g.,
more ... than rather than more ... as
between ... and rather than between ... or
etc.

this idiom is not very basic at all.
so—as always—there are other, more straightfroward, ways to solve the problem.